[After sitting silently, for a moment, trying to think of something to make her lieutenant feel better, and only drawing empty platitudes that she didn't believe and that she knew Rukia wouldn't want to hear.]

Rukia... [No honorific, this time - this conversation should be between friends, not just squadmates.] I'm sorry. Sorry that I couldn't be there, that we didn't end this mess a century ago. [So many times, she's wanted to kick herself for dismissing Shunsui's distrust of Aizen all those years ago.]